Monday 14 December 2009

Emotional baggage

I read Rosemary a bedtime story tonight. It was a library book that she’d picked out herself. She tends to choose a bunch of books from the readers section – so aimed at slightly older children to read themselves. I hadn’t read it before and nor had Chris – or Rosemary.

I was reading through it fine. It seemed like a fairly ordinary story, about a school and one boy in particular. But suddenly, I got to a part of the story and burst into tears. I had to keep reading, but my voice was all wobbly and waving my hands to try to wave away the tears. No-one died. There were no starving children. There was just a little boy bringing his great-grandmother in to school as part of a project – to bring something old and precious in.

I cry uncontrollably at weird things. Applause is one of the worst. I was always crying when watching The West Wing, because, well, people frequently applaud the President – especially when he’s as charismatic and eloquent as Jed Bartlett. People doing something good or nice en masse is another one that gets me. I was in almost constant tears when I went on the march to save Stroud Maternity (though I was pregnant at the time, so had an excuse for excessive lacrimosity). And anything to do with matriarchs, especially when people show love and respect for grandmothers and great-grandmothers and great-great-grandmothers (my Gran is one of those, amazingly).

Rosemary was pretty much unfazed by this. She glanced at me a couple of times, but was really engrossed by the story, so was happy as long as I kept reading. She could obviously tell that I wasn’t really upset as, the few times I have been with her, she’s immediately given me a big cuddle and kiss.

So, have you ever been overcome by tears when reading a bedtime story? Is there anything that particularly makes you cry? Do you mind crying in front of your children?

11 comments:

  1. Oh, your post nearly made me cry. I have a thing for old men. I grew up with 2 granddads but no granma's and I think that could be why I have a soft spot for them!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch always makes me cry. The first time I read it to my son, I barely made it to the end of the story! If you don't know it, you can download an mp3 of him reading it from his website along with many more of his stories. (Good for listening to in the car.)

    And no, I don't mind crying in front of my children!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have lots of triggers, and don't mind to cry in front of my daughter. I do mind if it happens in public but really can't control it. I had a moment yesterday, when my daughter went up to the Nikolaus (German version of Santa, comes on 6th Dec) in spite of her obvious fear, holding my hand tight but gathering her courage to go close to the scary person. Little things like that. Books too (A Thousand Splendid Suns) sometimes even a children's song. I've been seen to cry when singing incy wincy spider (I do find it a moving song, so simple, yet so much wisdom in it). I also cry when really angry - must be my way of showing any kind of strong emotion.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sweet! I teared up when I was reading "the lion in the library" for the first time, which isn't even a sad book, just a touching one. My new rule is to pre read a kids book for poignant, potential tear inducing moments so at least I will be prepared! I'm cool with sniffling in front of the kids though, no buttoning up of emotions in our house if I can help it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yep..anything where parents and children are separated, even briefly. "Bunny my honey" does it for me - and bunny is only lost for a single page!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I don't cry much, but I sometimes do when my children are too cute. I'd like to cry more, as I think this is all part of life.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I cry all the time. Today I cried when my boys did the actions to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. My voice broke as I was singing. I quite often cry in front of them (usually reading blogs), but smile to reassure them all is well! I think it's good to show emotion x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh I cry at everything. This week was watching Piran lean over and pick a toy off the floor in front of him. TV gets me every time. I blame the hormones and I have found that muslins come in very handy for mopping up tears!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Whatever you do, DO NOT read The Little Match Girl. I was inconsolable and the children found it hilarious that I was sobbing and have insisted I read it every night since.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think crying in front of children is fine. I wish I was more able to do it myself. I never saw my mum cry, and when I saw an aunt cry (while watching "Roots"), I was completely shocked. My cousin took it in her stride, and I couldn't understand that, as I thought something really dreadful must have happened. I felt horribly embarrassed and couldn't make sense of it.

    So yes, I think crying in front of kids is good - so long as it comes with a bit of explanation (if possible), and a cuddle, and an "it's ok, don't worry" reassurance.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nature programmes do it for me. Mother animals with baby animals, in particular.

    ReplyDelete